His playing strategy —- jumping around the board instead of running categories straight down, betting odd amounts on Daily Doubles and doing a final wager to tie — has fans calling him a "villain" and "smug." Other fans are hailing him as a "hero" and "swag lord."

He explains to MentalFloss.com that he didn't come up with the plan. It's called the "Forrest Bounce" after contestant Chuck Forrest, who used it in 1985. "The more unpredictable you are, the more you put your opponents off-balance, the longer you can keep an initial advantage," Chu tells Mental Floss, adding,"It greatly increases your chance of winning the game if you can pull it off, and I saw no reason not to do it."

He says he was surprised by the reaction. "I was just floored — I was like, 'Oh my God, people have strong opinions about me!' "

Chu, who lives in a Cleveland suburb, will return to the show on Feb. 24 after the "Battle of the Decades" tournament featuring former champions to celebrate the game show's 30th anniversary.